Well known Hunter spokesman is still alive... barely. Read the story at the following link: www.latitude38.com/lectronic/LectronicLat.lasso.
Mike Harker Savagely Beaten In Carribean
- Thread starter Ken Palmer
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thanks for posting this ken .......sad that the world has things like this going on .....i take this news as a sobering heads up to what one needs to be aware of out there...not only how good you bed a hull fitting but also that even in the outside world one needs to keep his eyes open for this sort of thing .....
regards
woody
Not surprised, an old man with a dissability, traveling alone in a nice big shiny yacht, at a Caribbean tourist destination and anchored in a public harbor will draw the local thiefs like chum attracts sharks. To avoid being a victim you need to know your sorrundings, google crime statitistics and information for your intended destinations. Think like a thief, when you go into an anchorage or harbor at a risk location look for the three most likely boats that you would make your target if you were a thief. Consider outward appearance, deck equipment, number of occupants and appraise the risk /reward relationship. If your boat is among those three consider going to a marina. Hide your weaknesses and disguise any signs of wealth. The locals at the dock will watch any newcomers just to pass time but some may be there for other motives so it does not hurt to approach one and ask for directions to the Police headquarters perhaps indicating you want to pay a courtesy visit and pick up a permit. It does not matter who you talk to as all the locals know each other and the word will get around that you may have some local connections. You may also inquire about good inexpensive places to eat stressing that you are on a tight budget and perhaps lie about just being a working captain for the shiny piece of crap boat. A Navy Diver Retired hat or NYPD Retired hat could help create the illusion of training and strength. Do not wonder around aimlessly but walk with a purpose like you know where you are going and what you want. Be curteous but not friendly to strangers and do not advertise your schedule or traveling details. A little paranoia goes a long way towards keeping you safe. Also device a way for being able to lock the companionway entry to the cabin from the inside so no one can just barge in on you and catch you completely unaware. A switch for deck lights and for a loud alarm may help scare away uninvited visitors that may be trying to break in.
I hope that they catch those guys. It is a shame that things like that happen.
Too bad they didn't meet with the unwelcoming end of a loaded pistol. The whole attack sounds rather savage and he is lucky that he lived through it.
I am not even sure if there is a lesson you can learn from this.
Too bad they didn't meet with the unwelcoming end of a loaded pistol. The whole attack sounds rather savage and he is lucky that he lived through it.
I am not even sure if there is a lesson you can learn from this.
A spear gun would work fine too. Yeah, there are a lot of restrictions on carrying firearms these days.
If a bad guy wants a gun then he gets it and carries it. If a normal person wants a gun for protection he has to run the gauntlet of laws and all kinds of other issues just to carry it. More times than not it seems like it isn't worth it to have the gun for self-defense.
Here is the problem. If we are keeping the guns out of the people's hands that should have them and the wrong people are carrying them around with little concern for the law, is this a good situation? Gun control laws really do nothing more than keep guns out of good people's hands, for the most part. If the laws are developed to protect society while still allowing people to carry when they should be able to then it would help deter crime.
If a bad guy wants a gun then he gets it and carries it. If a normal person wants a gun for protection he has to run the gauntlet of laws and all kinds of other issues just to carry it. More times than not it seems like it isn't worth it to have the gun for self-defense.
Here is the problem. If we are keeping the guns out of the people's hands that should have them and the wrong people are carrying them around with little concern for the law, is this a good situation? Gun control laws really do nothing more than keep guns out of good people's hands, for the most part. If the laws are developed to protect society while still allowing people to carry when they should be able to then it would help deter crime.
IMHO, Lenient, feel good laws, and the failure to more ruthlessly respond to Somali pirates and their like, have emboldened many people, even in places that were once considered relatively safe, to pursue this type of brutality.
Why shouldn't they? They see others making quick easy money thru piracy
with little risk and great reward. For every Mike Harker that you hear about, how many thefts of cruising sailors go unreported ??
In addition to the common sense precautions other have mentioned, having a few (loaded) flare pistols hidden near your bunk and around the boat might at least provide a "legal" means of some defense.
Why shouldn't they? They see others making quick easy money thru piracy
with little risk and great reward. For every Mike Harker that you hear about, how many thefts of cruising sailors go unreported ??
In addition to the common sense precautions other have mentioned, having a few (loaded) flare pistols hidden near your bunk and around the boat might at least provide a "legal" means of some defense.
I don't believe this to be coincidental. I don't believe shiny things attract rats. These two thugs could have hit any boat in the harbor. They obviously "picked" Mike's boat. No doubt they survey the boat from a distance and determined it was an easy mark as it had a single occupant.
I am sorry for Mike's beating and I too hope the police catch the culprits. I doubt that the things they stole will be easy to fence once the police post the list of items. However, if the dinghy was found adrift, it is possible the items are at the bottom of the harbor. Mike was quick to sound the alarm which did not give the thieves that much time.
Thanks for the post and it all but proves, there is safety in numbers. Maybe a raft up would have been a better security solution.
I am sorry for Mike's beating and I too hope the police catch the culprits. I doubt that the things they stole will be easy to fence once the police post the list of items. However, if the dinghy was found adrift, it is possible the items are at the bottom of the harbor. Mike was quick to sound the alarm which did not give the thieves that much time.
Thanks for the post and it all but proves, there is safety in numbers. Maybe a raft up would have been a better security solution.
The man was asleep when he was attacked! No weapon would have been useful. A small barking dog would have been a good warning and perhaps a deterrent. I presume that the thieves were barefoot so a set of spiked mats in the cockpit and on the companion steps would have taken the fun out of boarding this boat.
GREAT advice, as 'most' of the islanders in the carrib. etc. are VERY afraid of all dogs. With the increase of pits and fighting dogs in the islands, the fear of dogs is apparently becoming worse.
The 'problem' with a dog onboard is that many of the former British Island still prohibit dogs from entry, or make entry so difficult that most with dogs dont call at these islands.
Perhaps there is a way to rig a motion detector to your deck lights. Also, this is a good reason why AC and a closed cabin offer a security benefit. Sounds like he had his companionway open or at least unsecured from inside. This insn't uncommon. I bet most of us lack a lock to secure the companionway from inside. Makes you think about doing something about that doesn't it?
use the motion detector to turn on lights and start the sound track of a large barking dog. That will alert the boat owner and cause the intruder to give thought to his plans.
I am shortly going cruising single-handed. I will be taking an inflatable doll dressed in concealing clothing. I've done this on extended road trips and it does give people the impression that you are not alone (although on a sailboat, they might think my crew is very lazy).
I believe that for a deterent to be effective there must be a consequence as well as a deterent. A barking dog is a deterent, ignoring a barking dog may result in being bitten or being confronted by an armed homeowner. A paper tiger is of little value. Someone climbing aboard a boat could trigger an alarm and turn on lights but if the intruder continues to board the boat he must suffer a consequence. Pepper spray is good, nails in the floor mats would help, a paintball gun may be enough. The crew needs time to react to a threat and alarms will provide that time.
Sure........the inflatable doll is to make it look like you aren't alone. That is the only reason to have it! LOL
my back deck has a sofa like cushion designed into it--lol--a few of those with decent hair , under a bimini and with a sun screen, no one would know the difference..LOL..is really a goood idea.....:dance: the bright light and sound-track is awesome also----and, isnt this another argument AGAINST boats with sugar scoop transoms??? tooo easy to board. the way i figure--if is made easier for me to board , then is also easier for others who i may not want on board to board--oops--something wrong with that picture---
you can see that sofa from space
do they make a blow-up jackie chan? i like the spike rug the best. motion detector! they will hear it and split, and you can heave welding rods at em to help them swim faster. jimbob
Small webcam mounted on one's mast looking into the cockpit. Coupled with a motion detector gives you ample time to see who and what they may have. Then one can be ready with an out dated fire extinguisher ti repel boarders. Oh... make sure the webcam can look forward so to check if there is anyone waiting on the foredeck.
Some good low cost security measures here, keep them coming. How about a killer rabbit... "run away... run away..."
Some good low cost security measures here, keep them coming. How about a killer rabbit... "run away... run away..."
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